Hi, I’m Eric Fairchild, and welcome to PestLiving.
If you’ve found your way here because you’ve discovered ants in the kitchen, a cockroach behind the refrigerator, strange noises in the walls, or some other pest you can’t quite identify, you’re probably looking for a simple answer.
What is it, why is it here, and what should I do about it?
That’s what PestLiving is all about.
I’ve spent more than 16 years working hands-on with homeowners and real pest problems, and over the years I’ve learned that pest control is rarely as simple as finding a bug and getting rid of it.
The pest you see isn’t always the source of the problem.
Start With the Problem
I’ve seen homeowners spray ants as soon as they see them, only to have them come back a few days later.
I’ve seen people find one cockroach and immediately wonder whether the entire house is infested.
I’ve also seen homeowners spend money on products that weren’t really suited to the pest they were trying to control.
In many situations, the first step isn’t treating anything.
It’s understanding what’s happening.
Where are the pests coming from?
What is attracting them?
Where could they be hiding?
Is there an opening they’re using to get inside?
Those details can completely change the way you approach a pest problem.
That’s the kind of practical thinking I bring to the articles here.
Why I Created PestLiving
There’s no shortage of pest-control information online.
The problem is that a lot of it feels like it was written simply to fill a page.
You see the same advice repeated over and over, often without much explanation of why something works, when it might not work, or what a homeowner should look for before trying it.
I wanted PestLiving to be different.
My goal is to take what I’ve learned from years of dealing with real pest problems and explain it in a way that’s useful to someone sitting at home trying to figure out what to do next.
You don’t need to be a pest-control professional to understand what’s happening in your house.
You just need someone to explain it clearly.
What You’ll Find Here
PestLiving covers the kinds of pest problems homeowners deal with every day.
That includes ants, cockroaches, bed bugs, termites, mice, flies, spiders, centipedes, and other common household pests.
I’ll cover things like identification, pest behavior, hiding places, entry points, prevention, DIY approaches, treatment options, and the questions that usually come up when you discover a pest problem.
Sometimes the answer may be surprisingly simple.
Other times, a pest problem can be more complicated than it first appears.
The important thing is understanding the difference.
What 16+ Years in the Field Has Taught Me
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to pay attention to the details.
Where did you first see the pest?
Was it a one-time sighting or are you seeing them regularly?
Are there signs nearby?
Has anything changed around the house?
Could moisture, food, clutter, cracks, gaps, or another condition be contributing to the problem?
These things matter.
A pest isn’t usually in your home for no reason. There is often something attracting it, giving it access, or providing the conditions it needs to survive.
Understanding that can be much more useful than simply treating the pest you happen to see.
I’ve also learned that homeowners don’t need complicated terminology to understand pest control. If a technical term matters, I’ll explain it. If a common DIY method has limitations, I’ll tell you. And if something deserves a closer look, I’ll point that out.
No Magic Fixes
If you’ve spent any time searching for pest-control advice online, you’ve probably come across plenty of claims about miracle solutions and overnight fixes.
Sometimes a simple solution really can help.
But pest problems aren’t all the same.
The right approach can depend on the type of pest, where it is living, how it got into the home, what is attracting it, and how established the problem has become.
That’s why I don’t want PestLiving to promise that one product, one spray, or one household ingredient will solve every situation.
I’d rather explain what may be happening and give you the information you need to decide what makes sense for your particular situation.
About the Author
Eric Fairchild
Pest-Control Writer & Home Pest Expert
I’ve spent more than 16 years working hands-on with homeowners and real pest problems.
That experience is the foundation of PestLiving.
I created this site to share the practical knowledge I’ve picked up over the years and to answer the questions homeowners usually have when they discover an unwanted pest in their home.
My approach is straightforward: understand the pest, understand why it’s there, and then figure out the most sensible next step.
I believe good pest-control information should be practical, honest, and easy to understand.
That’s what I’m working to build here at PestLiving.
— Eric Fairchild